Profile of Immigrant Workers, Families, and Children in Maryland

1. The Urban Institute Profile of Immigrant Workers, Families, and Children in Maryland The Social Integration of Immigrants in Maryland: A New Comprehensive Approach Annapolis, MD, September 22, 2009 Karina FortunyThe Urban Institute Randy Capps Migration Policy Institute

2. The Urban Institute Today�s Presentation Help provide context for conference themes Overview of immigrant integration in Maryland project Highlights of findings Immigrant workforce �The Contributions of Immigrant Workers to the Economy� 2008 report Children of immigrants Preliminary findings Policy recommendations

3. The Urban Institute Overview of Immigrant Integration in Maryland Project Profile of immigrants in Maryland and selected counties in 2005 � 2006 Identifying strengths and needs for a better policy response National picture does not suffice as large variations across states Broader framework of immigrant integration Two-generational approach Informing state and local policy Governor�s Executive Order Maryland Council for New Americans report Funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation

4. The Urban Institute Immigrant Workforce

5. The Urban Institute Immigrant Shares of Lower-Skilled Workers Has Grown the Fastest Note: Workers are people age 18 to 64 who are in the civilian workforce, report positive wage and salary earnings or self-employment earnings if self-employed for the prior 12 months, and have worked at least 25 weeks or 700 hours (i.e., the full-time equivalent for 20 weeks).Note: Workers are people age 18 to 64 who are in the civilian workforce, report positive wage and salary earnings or self-employment earnings if self-employed for the prior 12 months, and have worked at least 25 weeks or 700 hours (i.e., the full-time equivalent for 20 weeks).

6. The Urban Institute Immigrants Concentrated in Montgomery, Prince George�s, and Baltimore Counties Three-quarters of immigrants in three counties 170,000 in Montgomery (41% of all immigrants) 101,000 in Prince George�s (24%) 43,000 in Baltimore (10%) Immigrant share largest in Montgomery and Prince George�s One of three workers in Montgomery is immigrant (36%) One of four workers in Prince George�s (24%)

7. The Urban Institute Large Diversity among Immigrant Workers 29% of immigrant workers are Hispanic in Maryland versus 49% nationally Asian (28%) and Black (25%) shares are higher than nationally No country accounts for more than 10% of workers in Maryland Only 5% from Mexico versus 32% nationally Asia represented: East Asia and Pacific (15%), Middle East and South Asia (12%) and Southeast Asia (4%) Africa and West Indies with 24% versus 9% nationally Nationally: Asians, 24%, Black, 8%, White, 19%Nationally: Asians, 24%, Black, 8%, White, 19%

8. The Urban Institute Many Immigrant Workers in Maryland Are Highly Educated 43% of immigrant workers in Maryland have a four-year college degree or more education 28% of immigrants nationally 36% of native-born workers in Maryland Large shares of immigrants from Asia and Europe are college-educated Middle East and South Asia (76%) East Asia and Pacific (65%) Europe, Canada, and Australia (58%)

9. Yet Large Shares of Immigrant Workers Have Not Completed High School 17% of immigrant workers do not have high school educations 28% of immigrants nationally 7% of native-born workers in Maryland About half of Mexican and Central American immigrants without high school educations Central America and Spanish-speaking Caribbean (53%) Mexico (47%)

10. The Urban Institute Mexican, Central American, and Southeast Asian Workers Are Most Likely to be Limited English Proficient

11. The Urban Institute Immigrants Are Over-Represented in Higher- and Lower-Skilled Occupations Immigrants are larger shares of high-skilled workers than their share of all workers (15%) More than one of four scientists (27%) is an immigrant One of five health care professionals (21%) One of five mathematicians and computer specialists (19%) Over-represented in lower-skilled occupations too One of three building and maintenance workers (32%) One of four construction workers (25%) One of five food preparers and servers (23%)

12. The Urban Institute Immigrant Earnings Increase with Education but Native-Foreign Gap Remains

13. The Urban Institute LEP Workers Earn Less than English Proficient Workers and Gap Increases with Education

14. The Urban Institute Conclusions Immigrants accounted for over half of growth of Maryland labor force and trend likely to continue MD immigrant workforce is diverse and better educated than immigrant workforce nationally Yet a significant share of immigrant workers are lower-skilled and LEP Immigrants are overrepresented in high- and low-skilled occupations Earnings go up with education, English, and time in the United States ESL and adult education needs likely to increase in the future

15. Children of ImmigrantsPreliminary Findings

16. Children of Immigrants in Maryland Growing Rapidly Number of children of immigrants doubled between 1990 and 2006 Slightly higher growth rate in Maryland versus nationally (110% versus 90%) Below growth rates of other states: North Carolina (394%) and Georgia (372%) One of five children in Maryland has immigrant parents (19% versus 23% nationally) Two-thirds of children of immigrants live in Montgomery and Prince George�s counties

17. Most Children of Immigrants Are U.S. Citizens but Many Have Noncitizen Parents 84% of children are U.S. citizens 80% born in the United States 23% of citizen children have noncitizen parents Larger shares of children with Mexican (55%) and Central American origin (46%) in mixed-status families Smaller shares with European (11%) and Southeast Asian origin (12%) in mixed-status families Nationally, 31% in mixed-status familiesNationally, 31% in mixed-status families

18. Children of Immigrants Less Likely to Be Poor but More Likely to Be Low-Income Lower poverty rate for children of immigrants than children of natives (7% versus 9%) Children of immigrants more likely to be in low-income families 27% of children of immigrants with incomes below twice poverty level versus 24% of children of natives Children with Mexican (54%) and Central American parents most likely to be low-income (44%) Children with European (11%) and East Asian parents least likely (15%) Maryland ranks third in lowest poverty rate after North Dakota and Vermont; Nationally 22% of children of immigrants are poor vs. 16% of children of natives. Low-income: 51% versus 35%Maryland ranks third in lowest poverty rate after North Dakota and Vermont; Nationally 22% of children of immigrants are poor vs. 16% of children of natives. Low-income: 51% versus 35%

19. Family Incomes and Homeownership Rates Are Comparable for Immigrant and Native Families $72,000, median family income of children of immigrants, versus $78,000 for children of natives Family income varies by origin $49,000 for children with Mexican and Central American parents $91,000 for children with East Asian, Middle Eastern, and South Asian parents 69% of children of immigrants in families that owned their homes versus 71 percent of children of natives

20. Low-Income Children of Immigrants Are Less Likely to Use Public Benefits Supplemental Security Income Supplemental Security Income

21. Immigrant Families Have Very High Work Effort 95% of children of immigrants in working families versus 91% of children of natives Immigrant-versus-native difference larger among low-income families 87% of children of immigrants in working families versus 68% of children of natives Almost all children with Mexican (99%) and South American (96%) parents in working families Combined 1800 hours the prior yearCombined 1800 hours the prior year

22. Many Children of Immigrants Face Risks for Adverse School Outcomes Children of immigrants are less likely to attend early education settings than children of natives (57% versus 63%) Racial and ethnic disparities in preschool enrollment Research indicates that disparities in skills at school entry increase as children move through school Disadvantaged children of immigrants at higher risk for poor academic performance Low-income families Parents with lower educational attainment LEP parents and linguistically isolated households

23. Conclusions Children of immigrants are key to population growth in the state Slow growth of children of natives and decline in number of children of natives age 0 to 5 Impact of immigration mostly limited to Maryland counties in Washington, D.C. Metro Montgomery, Price George�s, and Howard Counties But other jurisdictions likely to be impacted in the future Impact unlikely to be geographically limited as children of immigrants join the workforce The Urban Institute

24. Conclusions Continued Children of immigrants are less likely to be poor than children of natives But economic hardship when parents are recent immigrants, and lack education and English skills Immigration has increased racial and ethnic and linguistic diversity of public schools White students no longer a majority in Maryland Overall children of immigrants do not appear disadvantaged vis-�-vis children of natives But many children face risks for adverse academic outcomes The Urban Institute

25. Policy Recommendations The Urban Institute

26. Work and Family Supports Education and job skills training that lead to higher-skilled and higher-paying jobs are needed There is a need for both ESL and adult education Employers should be part of a coordinated policy response Assistance with obtaining U.S. credentials Assistance with obtaining U.S. citizenship Improving access to other supports can help families Affordable child care, financial services, and driver�s licenses Outreach to eligible children and families for TANF, SNAP, and other public services is needed The Urban Institute

27. Children�s Development Early education is essential for development and school readiness of disadvantaged children Increasing participation in child care and early education programs is needed Improving access to affordable and culturally sensitive child care and early education programs Outreach to eligible children for publicly funded child care and subsidies for higher quality center-based care The Urban Institute

28. Impact on Public Schools Population of disadvantaged Hispanic, Black, and LEP students likely to increase in the future Improving effectiveness of English Language Learning programs is critical Tracking progress on both language learning and subject matter content Increasing professional development and support for teachers After-school programs for LEP and other students at risk of dropping out can help keep them in school Improving parental literacy and involvement is also needed The Urban Institute